diabetes: an easy read guide

What to do when youhave Type 2 diabetesAn easy read guide

What to do when you have Type 2 diabetes

What is diabetes?

Sometimes yourbody does not makeenough insulin.

Sometimes yourbody can’t use insulin properly.

Insulin helps you touse blood sugar. It helps you to be active.

People with diabetesget too much sugarin their blood.

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Diabetes can happen to anyone.

You will always have diabetes, but the right treatmentwill help you to stay well.

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Type 2 diabetes

There are 2 kinds of diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2. We have got Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes usually starts in people after the age of 40.

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See a doctor

Go to a doctor. Your doctor will give you a check-up.

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What is diabetes?

Your doctor will tell you what diabetes is.


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See a nurse

You can talk to the nurse about diabetes.


See a dietitian

You might get to see a dietitian who knows aboutfood and health.

They will help you to choose the right foods to eat.

6 What to do when you have Type 2 diabetes

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Useful information

Your doctor or nurse will tell you about Diabetes UKand how it can help you.


Will I feel better?

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Sometimes you may feel unwell.

This could be because your blood sugar is too high or too low.

Will my treatment

make me feelbetter?

Yes, but...


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What is blood sugar?

Sometimes you need a blood test to check yourblood sugar.

Your body makesblood sugar whenyou eat bread, potatoes, and sweetthings like biscuits.


High blood sugar

How do you know if your blood sugar is high?

• You may go to the loo a lot.

• You may feel more tired than usual.

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• You may feel very thirsty.


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Low blood sugar

How do you know if your blood sugar is low?

• You may feel sweaty.

• You may feel very tired and grumpy.

• You may feel shaky or dizzy.


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What should I do?

Make sure that you:

If you still feel unwell,you must see yourdoctor or nurse.

Take the right medicine

Eat the rightfood

Have regularexercise


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Your treatment

As your body doesnot make enoughinsulin or does notuse it properly, youmay need to taketablets.

• Sometimes you may need injections.

• You need to eat a healthy diet.

• You need to exercise.


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Eat regular meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Don’t miss meals.

They will help your body to stay healthy.


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Choose the right foods

Choose good healthy foods.

Eat fruit and vegetable, beans and lentils, meat, fishand dairy products.

Fruit and vegetables

Try to eat 5 servingsevery day.

Bread, rice, potatoes,pasta and otherstarchy foods

Try to eat some ofthese every day.

Meat, fish, eggs, nuts,beans, milk and dairyfoods

You can eat some ofthese every day.


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Some foods have a lot of fat and sugar in them. Don’t eat too much of them.

Chips Butter or margarine Cakes & biscuits

Cheese Pastry Crisps & snacks

Sugary fizzy drinks Choose low-fat foods.

Be careful with these foods


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Exercise is good for you


When you are ill

If you are ill or have a cold, you must still take yourtablets for diabetes. This is very important.

But if you are beingsick or have diarrhoea, call yourdoctor or nurse foradvice.

18 What to do when you have Type 2 diabetes

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Check-ups

It is important to have regular check-ups.

You should see your doctor or nurse at least onceevery year for a full check-up.

You can tell the doctor or nurse if youhave any problems with your diabetes.


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Check-ups

Your feet Your eyes

Your diet

The doctor or nurse may checkyour wee or take some blood

You will need to have check-ups for:

Your blood pressure


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Remember

It is very important to follow the treatment you are given properly.


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Remember

Take some exercise to stay fit

If you do all of this it willhelp you to keep well.

If you are worried aboutany of this, talk to yourdoctor or nurse.

Take the medication atthe right time

Eat the right foods


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Diabetes UKMacleod House10 ParkwayLondon, NW1 7AA

Web: www.diabetes.org.uk

More information

For more information contact:

Telephone Diabetes UK Careline:

Tel: 0345 123 2399

Email: [email protected]

(calls may be recorded for quality and training purposes)


This leaflet has been made by:

The leading UK diabetes charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns alongside people with or at risk of diabetes.

With help from CHANGE, a leadingnational human rights organisationled by disabled people.

All images © CHANGEwww.changepeople.org

This leaflet was funded by:

the NIHR (National Institute forHealth Research) as part of the OK Diabetes project at the University of Leeds

diabetes: an easy read guide

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